Barbell with removable weights

ABSTRACT

A barbell exercising device having weights adapted for mounting on a barbell. Each weight has a circular shape and a centrally disposed, axially aligned bore formed therein, and includes walls defining a radial slot extending from the bore to the periphery of the weight with the walls defining the slot being disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of the bore. The radial slot in each weight allows the weight to be mounted on a barbell and demounted therefrom without removing a collar or other weight retaining device by passing the barbell through the canted slot of the weight and then aligning the barbell with the axially aligned bore of the weight. A barbell is provided for supporting the weights which includes a hollow rod having flanges affixed to each of its terminal ends and a pair of bar members. Each bar member is partially, telescopingly insertable into the rod and has locking means affixed thereto for retaining each bar member in the hollow interior of the rod and retarding movement of the bar member axially of the rod. Protuberances formed on flanges positioned on the barbell, the rod and a weight form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in antirotational relationship.

-[75] Inventor:

United States Patent 1 Speyer 15 BARBELL wm REMOVABLE WEIGHTS Henning J. Speyer, Chicago, 111.

[73] Assignee: Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago,

221 Filed: Aug. 8, 1973 [21] lAppl. No.: 386,532

Related US. Application Data 1 [62 Division of Ser. No. 267,696, June 29, 1972, Pat. No.

s2 u.s.c1 272/84,287/DIG.'8,177/191 5-1 1m.c|.....- A63b11/02 [58] Field of Search. 272/81, 84; 177/191, 248, 177/250, 25-2, 256-258; l6l/7; 287/DIG. 8;

[ i References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 687,153 271953 Great Britain 272/81 18,336 v8/1891 Great Britain 272/84 [45] July 23, 1974 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or Firrp-Arnstein, Gluck, Weitzen-.

feld &Minow' 57 v ABSTRACT- Abarbell exercising device having weights adapted for mounting on a barbell, Each weight has a circular shape and a centrally disposed, axially aligned boreformed therein, and includes walls defining a radial slot extending from the here to the. periphery of the weight with the walls defining the slot being disposed at an angle with respect to the. axis of the bore. The radial slot in each weight allows the weight to be mounted on a barbell and demounted therefrom without removing a collar or other weight retaining device by passing the barbell through the canted slot of the weight and then aligning the barbell'withlthe axially aligned bore of the weight. A- barbell is provided/for supporting the weights which includes a hollow rod ances formed on flang'estpositioned on the, barbell, I

the rod and'a-weight'i'formcastllated"mating surface portions capable of interengagingin, antirotational M relationship.

lgv izlg I --.'.m i= -m I 1. a I i I I61: 7 7 a A U I -35 23 The present invention relates to barbells and weights therefor. The use of barbells and weights'for exercising is known throughout the world.'However, the known devices require the removal of collars at either end of the barbell or bar in order to add weights-to the barbell by passing the bar through a centrally disposed bore in the weight. Similarly, removal of weights from the'bar requires removal of the collar from the bar followed by pullingthe weight axially offthe bar. In the past, considerable time and effort was required to loosen and demount the collar in order toadd or to subtract weights from thebar. More recently, snap-action type locking devices have been utilized to decrease the amount of effort required to loosen the collar prior to removal of the collar. However, even with these improvements, the collar must be removed from the bar and the weight slipped on or off the end of thebar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is the provision of a combe mounted on or demounted from the barbell without removal of weight retaining means, such as a collar.

-Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination of barbell and weights wherein the weights each have a canted slot extending from the periphery of the weight to the bore through the center of the weight. The weights are mounted on a rod that telescopes intothe hollow end of the barbelLThe telescoping endsofeachrodihas a cam type locking device whereby rotation of the telescoped end of the rod-will cause thelockingdevice to engage the barbell and lock thereto. Protuberances formed on the flanges on the barbell, the rod and the weights form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in-antirotational relationship;

Further objectsand advantages of this invention will becomeapparentfrom the following description when thesame is considered'in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a barbell weight having a centrally disposed, axially aligned boreand a substantially radial slot formed therein whereby the weight is mountable on a barbell by passing the barbellthrough the slot formed in the weight. The walls defining the radial slot extend from the bore to the periphery of the weight and are disposed at an angle with respect to the axisofthe bore.

ing the weight on a barbelhupon the barbell reaching the boreof the weight, theweight is cammed along the junction between the walls defining the slot and the bore into axial alignment with the barbell, thus seating bination'of barbell and weight wherein the weight can i In the use of the weight, the weight can be mounted on the bore of the weight about the barbelL The mounted weight is retained on the barbell by providing a force longitudinally to the axis of the barbell to prevent the,

canting of the weight by being cammed'by the barbell passing through the junction between the bore and the .walls defining the radial slot. By providing the longitudinal force, the weight cannot accidentally slipor fall from the barbell in use or upon other movement as the passage of the barbell through the canted, radial slot is prevented by the surface formed at the junction of the radial slot'and the bore; The weight can also be retained on the barbell by gravity by providing at least oneportion of greater density than the density of the remainder of the weight near the periphery of the weight adjacent the slot.

The present invention further provides a barbell in combination with the weight, the barbell being adapted for supporting a plurality of the weights adjacent the ends thereof. The barbell comprises a hollow rod having a flange affixed at each of its terminal ends and a pair of bar members insertable into the rod and adapted to have a plurality or weights mounted thereon. Each of the flanges affixed to the rod has a central bore formed therethrough. Each bar member has a flange affixed to one end thereof and further has locking means affixed to the bar member for retaining the bar member in the hollow interior of the rod and retarding movement of the bar memberaxially of the rod.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of two weights and one end of the barbell shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a weight as described herein, on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 2.

I 'FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one end of the barbell assembly shownin'FIG. 1 with'a first weight mounted on the barbell, and with a second weight being partially mounted on the barbell and with the fully mounted position of the weight being shown in broken lines, the slots of the weights being horizontally disposed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the barbell shown in FIG. 1, having three weights mounted thereon, the slots of the weights being horizontally disposed.

FIG. 7. is a perspective view of the barbell and weights shown in FIG. 6, with the weights being rotated approximately and with one weight being partially demounted from the barbell.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the barbell shown in FIG. 1 with a weight in accordance with the present invention lying in a demounted position! BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRE EMBODIMENT I In'the particular construction shown in the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates, generally a weight adapted for mounting on a barbell in accordance with the present invention. Weightll) is generally circular in shape and has a centrally disposed, axially aligned bore 11 formed therein. Weight 10 further has walls 12 which define a radial slot extending from bore 11 to the periphery of weight 10. Walls 12 are disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of bore 11 of weight 1.0 for apurpose'to be-hereinafter described. Preferably walls '12 defining the radial slot are disposed at an angle greater thanand less than 90 from the axis of bore 11. Walls 12 are preferably spaced apart at least a distance substantially equal to the diameter of bore 1 1- and are substantially parallel, although walls 12 may be divergentfrom their junction with bore 11 to the periphery of weight 10.'Weig'ht preferably has spaced radial protuberances 13 on the substantially planar surfaces thereof. Protuberances 13 are designed for interengagement with surfaces having substantially identical protuberances, such as other weights 10. Preferably, protuberances 13 form a castellated surface capable of meshing with substantially identical castellated surfaces. 1

The present invention includes an assembly formed of one or more weights 10 with a barbell indicated gene'rally by numeral 15. Barbell l5'includes a rod 16 having a hollow interior. Rod 16 can be of any desired shape and preferably is circular in cross-section and has a circular bore as its hollow interior. In the embodiment shown in FIG. '2, rod 16 comprises two concentric tubular members 16a and 16b, wherein member 160 is a rod freely rotatable about member 16b and flanges 17. Flanges 17 are each secured to rod 16b by means of at least one bolt or screw 18 and each has a central bore formed therethrough.

Barbell further includes a pair of bar members 19, each being adapted to have a plurality of weights 10 mounted thereon. Each of bar members 19 are partially, telescopingly insertable into rod 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the bar members 19 has a flange 21 affixed to one end thereof. Flange 21 preferably has a knob portion 22 adapted for gripping for manual rotation of the bar member 19 to which the flange is affixed; Knob portion 22 is secured to flange 21 by means of a screw 23.

Each of bar members 19 is provided with locking means affixed; thereto for retaining the bar member within the hollow interior of rod 16 and for retarding movement of the bar member axially of rod 16. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the locking means comprises a camming member 24 which is 'eccentrically journalled on the end of bar member .19

opposed from the end thereof bearing flange 21. Camming member 24 is rotatable about threaded stud 26 and is held thereon by means of a pair of nuts 27 threaded onto the end of stud 26. Bar member 19 can be formed of a suitable material such as steel, and can be either solid or tubular. Stud 26 can be affixed to bar member 19, particularly if the latter is tubular, by affixing stud 26 to a solid bar portion 28, inserting bar portion 28 into the end of bar member 19, and crimping or deforming bar member 19 against bar portion 28, as at 29. Bar portion 28 may have an annular depression 31 to facilitate crimping bar member 19 thereagainst.

Preferably, the cross-sectional dimensions of camming member 24 arev substantially equal to the crossrod 16, by friction, in response to rotation of bar member 19 in either direction with respect to rod 16. Thus, the largest cross-sectional dimension of bar member 19 and camming member 24 should be slightly smaller than the cross-sectional dimensions of the hollow interior of rod 16 to permit bar member 19 and camming member 24 to be inserted into rod 16 while permitting the locking engagement of camming member 24 to the interior of rod 16 by friction as bar member 19 is rotated.

As barbell 15 forms an exercising device assembly in combination with one or more weights 10, it is preferred to have the outer periphery of bar member 19 corresponding in configuration and be slightly smaller than bore 11 and the radial slot formed by walls 12.

In accordance with the present invention, weight 10 is mounted on bar member 19 of barbell 15 by passing bar member 19 through the slot defined by walls 12 and seating bar member 19in bore 11. Similarly, weight 10 is removed from barbell 15 by causing bar member 19 to pass through the slot defined by walls 12 from bore 11 pastthe periphery of weight 10.

In the mounted condition, weight 10 is clamped between flanges l7 and 21 to resist accidental demounting of weight 10 from barbell 15 upon use or other movement of the combination. Weight 10 is particularly resistant to accidental demounting from barbell 15 due to the radial slot defined by walls 12 being disposed at an angle to bore 11. Thus, when bore 11 is seated about bar member 19, weight 10 cannot be removed from bar member 19 unless weight 10 is angled and withdrawn slightly from bar member 19 to align bar member 19 with the slot defined by walls 12. Only a relatively small longitudinal force is required to prevent the canting or angling of weight 10 thereby effectively preventing the accidental demounting of weight 10. Barbell 15, and its locking means provided by camming member 24 frictionally engaging the hollow interior of rod 16, has been found to effectively provide the longitudinal force required to prevent accidental demounting.

- Although resistance to accidental demounting of weight 10 from barbell 15 is provided by the clamping action between flanges 17 and 21 of barbell 15, a positive weight retaining action and prohibition of rotation of the weights on barbell 15 is provided by having spaced radial protuberances 32 formed on the outwardly facing surfaces of flanges l7. Protuberances 32 are substantially identical to and are adapted to mesh and interengage with the radial protuberances 13 formed on weight 10. By providing mating protuberances l3 and 32, weight 10 is held in locking and antirotational engagement upon the clamping of weight 10 between flanges 17 and 21. Preferably, protuberances 32 and also protuberances 13 form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in antirotational relationship Since both substantially planar surfaces of weight 10'have protuberances 13 formed thereon, additional weights 10 can be held in antirotational locked arrangement by having the protuberances 13 on each subsequent weight interengage the protuberances13 on each preceding weight. In this manner, a plurality of weights 10 are mountable on barbell 15 in anti-rotational relationship and are protected against accidental demounting by the interengagement of their respective protuberances 13, the interengagement of the protuberances 13 formed on one substantially planar surface of one of the weights 10 with the protuberances 32 formed on flange 17, and the clamping action on'the weights between flanges 17 and 21 due to bar member 19 being inserted into rod 16 to the fullest extent permitted by the presence of the weights l0 and by being lockingly engaged with the interior of rodl6." 1

Additional resistance to the demounting of weight from barbell is provided by having the density of weight 10 vary'so that portions of greater density are placed near the periphery of the weight adjacent to or in proximity of the'radial slot defined by walls 12. The portions of greater density will seek a downward orientation on barbell 15' due to the force of gravity, maintaining the radial slot in vertical downward-facing oriconcrete, iron, and the like.

The operation of mounting or demounting a weight l0 with respect tobarbell 15 is illustrated in FIG. 4. To prepare barbell 15 for either mounting or demounting of a weight, such as weight 10b, knob portion 22 of flange 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction utilized in looking bar member 19 to rod 16 to cause camming member 24t o release its frictional hold on the interior of rod 16. Bar member 19 is then axially withdrawn from rod 16, for example, by pulling knob portion 22 away from flange 17. Bar member 19 need only be axially-withdrawn from rod 16 a distance to provide release of protuberances 13 ofweight 10b from engagement with protuberances 32 on: flange 17 and from engagement with protuberances13 on other weights, such as weight 10a and to permit canting or angling of weight 10b to align the slot formed by walls 12 with the, axis of bar member 19. Barbell 15 is now prepared for mounting or demounting of weights. In

' demounting, weight 10b is pulled from bar member 19 at the periphery of weight 10b at a point diametrically opposed to the slot formed by walls 12. Upon the initial pulling of the weight 1%, the weight is cammed along the junction of walls 12 with bore 11 of the weights causing weight 10bt0 be canted from its mounted position 10b to the position shown in FIG. 4 with the walls 12 of the weight being aligned with the axis of bar member 19. Continued pulling of the weight causes bar member 19 to pass through the slot formed by walls 12. After bar member 19 has cleared the open end of the slotformed by walls 12, the weight 10b'is fully demounted. Where weight 10b is mounted between two weights, 10a and 100, as shown in FIG. 6, bar member 19 need be axially withdrawn from rod 16 only to the extent necessary to permit disengaging of protuberances .13 on weight10b from the protuberances on each of weights 10a and 100 and to permit thecanting or angling of weight 10b as shown in FIG. 7. In mounting a weight such as weight 10b, the operation is reversed in that bar member 19 is again withdrawn from 1 bar member through the'slot as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Upon reaching the interior end of the slot, weight 10b is cammed along the surface of the junction between tating bar member 19 in either direction, for example,

by the manual rotation of knob 22. In this manner, weight 10b can be readily mounted or demounted on bar member 19 without the removal of a collar or other 1 weight retaining device from barbell 15, and upon completion of the mounting is securely held in nonrotational engagement on the bar member wherebyaccidental demounting is prevented.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the'specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being'limited only' by the appended claims.

I claim: r I. An exercising device comprising in combination:

a. a hollow rod having a flange affixed at each of its I ends, said flanges having a central bore formed therethrough; I

b. a pair of bar memberseach bar member being adapted to have a plurality of weights mounted thereon and each being partially, telescopingly insertable into said rod, each of said bar members having a flange affixed to one end thereof and hav- -ing locking means affixed to said bar member for retainingsaid bar member in the hollow interior of said rod and retarding movement of said bar member axially of said' rod; and

c. at leastone barbell weight having a circular shape and a centrally disposed, axially aligned bore formed therein, said weight having walls defining a radial slot formed in said weight extending from said bor'e' formed therein to the periphery of said .weight, said walls defining said-slot being disposed at an angle to the axis of said bore formed in said weight, whereby said weight is mountable on either of said bar members by passing said bar member through said slot formed therein.

, 2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises an eccentrically journalled, rotatable camming memberaffixed to the other end of each of said bar members, said camming member having its cross-sectional dimensions substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of each said bar member, whereby each of said bar members and its'affixed camming member are insertableint'o the hollow interior of said rod with said camming members being lockingly engageable in weight retaining relation with said rod in response to rotation of said bar members in either direction with respect to said rod.

3. The exercising device ofclaiml wherein each said flange affixed to said rod and said weight have substan tially identical, spaced radial protuberances on the interengaging surfaces thereof, whereby said weight is lockingly and anti-rotationally clampable on either of said bar members between one of said flanges affixed to said rod and the flange affixed to said bar member.

4. The exercising device of claim 3 wherein said protuberances formed on said flanges and said weight form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in anti-rotational relationship.

5. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein each said flange affixed to each of said bar members includes a to the axis of said bore formed in said weight. 

1. An exercising device comprising in combination: a. a hollow rod having a flange affixed at each of its ends, said flanges having a central bore formed therethrough; b. a pair of bar members each bar member being adapted to have a plurality of weights mounted thereon and each being partially, telescopingly insertable into said rod, each of said bar members having a flange affixed to one end thereof and having locking means affixed to said bar member for retaining said bar member in the hollow interior of said rod and retarding movement of said bar member axially of said rod; and c. at least one barbell weight having a circular shape and a centrally disposed, axially aligned bore formed therein, said weight having walls defining a radial slot formed in said weight extending from said bore formed therein to the periphery of said weight, said walls defining said slot being disposed at an angle to the axis of said bore formed in said weight, whereby said weight is mountable on either of said bar members by passing said bar member through said slot formed therein.
 2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises an eccentrically journalled, rotatable camming member affixed to the other end of each of said bar members, said camming member having its cross-sectional dimensions substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of each said bar member, whereby each of said bar members and its affixed camming member are insertable into the hollow interior of said rod with said camming members being lockingly engageable in weight retaining relation with said rod in response to rotation of said bar members in either direction with respect to said rod.
 3. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein each said flange affixed to said rod and said weight have substantially identical, spaced radial protuberances on the interengaging surfaces thereof, whereby said weight is lockingly and anti-rotationally clampable on either of said bar members between one of said flanges affixed to said rod and the flange affixed to said bar member.
 4. The exercising device of claim 3 wherein said protuberances formed on said flanges and said weight form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in anti-rotational relationship.
 5. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein each said flange affixed to each of said bar members includes a knob portion adapted for gripping for manual rotation of said bar member.
 6. The exercising device of claim 1 including a plurality of said weights.
 7. The exercising device of claim 6 wherein said walls defining said slot of each of said plurality of weights are disposed at an angle greater than 0* and less than 90* to the axis of said bore formed in said weight. 